The Shoshone Furniture Company
Shoshone Furniture Company today is the continuation of my granddad's business; the design, and hand manufacture of unique furnishings by commission. To create his signature style, Molesworth Furniture, Tom brought together wood in its naturally beautiful form and brilliant leather upholstery accented with welt, brass tacks and Chimayo weaving. Shoshone Furniture Company then, almost a century ago, was located in Cody Wyoming. For nearly thirty years under Tom's direction, Foss hide lamp shades, wrought iron, and one of a kind western art accentuated Shoshone Furniture Company's iconic look. Tom's furniture eventually found it's way to 48 states. His interpretation of western design graced President Eisenhower's den as well as hotels, dude ranches, a yacht, and the homes and ranches of captains of industry across this nation.
After he retired, my granddad and I played one of his favorite card games together, Gin Rummy, at his house on the edge of the desert in Scottsdale Arizona. He always won. He took my brother and me pheasant hunting, another passion he instilled in me. His western art collection and his furniture were the colorful background fabric of my chidhood memories of him. Wyoming Public Television chronicled a bit of Tom's life and work in a well done video through their series, Main Street, Wyoming. This is a link to it as shown by YouTube, Molesworth.
Another fine reference to my granddad and his work is the beautiful book Molesworth, written by Terry Winchell, published in 2005 by Gibbs Smith. Terry and Claudia's lovely store Fighting Bear Antiques in Jackson Wyoming, has been discovering and restoring for resale Molesworth furniture for many years. Fighting Bear's web site is also a thorough reference for my granddad's work. Terry has become the premier authority on my granddad's furniture, consulted by auction houses for their Molesworth Furniture auctions, he has seen and handled more Molesworth furniture than anyone today. This is a link to a video from the Sotheby's Auction in July 2020 that Terry narrates. How Thomas Molesworth’s Furniture Captured the Spirit of the American West
Shoshone Furniture Company today uses materials and methods of the same quality that established its reputation when goods were built to last a lifetime. As Tom did, I use interestingly grown wood in its natural form together with brilliant leather, weavings from Chimayo NM, lamp shades from Foss and local iron work to westernize classic furniture styles. Tom's name and his tools have been handed down to me as well as a love of the west. Our shared drive to celebrate that love by making functional, representational art of the highest quality is Shoshone Furniture Company then and now. I humbly hope to further the beauty, humor and integrity that Tom so successfully introduced to the west many years ago. There may never be another Thomas Canada Molesworth but there is a Thomas Canada Molesworth the second.
I have lived in six states of western North America and now live in the westernmost of the contiguous United States, California. California is the territory where the western states' cowboy learned his trade from the vaqueros. It is also where some of the west's wild mustang ancestors came ashore. One of my many favorite places in California is the Owens Valley. The people speaking the Shoshone language that were peacefully living there as early as anyone can remember, made beautiful baskets from the once lush environment. I have a BA degree in art and a long career in light construction spanning from laborer to contractor in all related trades. Now I make Molesworth Furniture using these artistic and craftsman talents along with a lifetime of natural study and experience living in the western United States.
Shoshone Furniture Company is a commissioned work business. I design your furniture according to your desires guided by the Molesworth Furniture aesthetics. This is a process involving specific visual, verbal and written communication in order to ensure your satisfaction in which, I take pride.
Thomas Canada Molesworth II
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